Electric car-heating system



F. THORNTON, JR. ELECTRIC CAR HEATING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY I4, 1920 Patented 0ct.31, 1922.

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WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1922.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK THORNTON, JR., OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIC PRODUCTS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC CAR-HEATING SYSTEM.

Application filed May 14,

T aZZ iii/10m it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK THORNTON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Mansfield, in the county of Rich- I land and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement .in Electric Car- Heating" Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrically-heated apparatus and particularly to electrical carheating apparatus, and it has, for one of its objects, to provide a car-heating element located in the seat pedestal.

A further object of my invention is to provide a heat unit so located that it will not interfere with the cleaning of the car floor and will not take up any floor space or impair, in any way the comfort of the passengers.

vA further object is to provide such ar ranoement for a car heater that passengers sitting in the seats will not obstruct the flow of heat and thus expose-the heater units to the danger of becoming overheated and possibly being burnt out.

Heretofore, some of the car heaters on the market were placed under the seats, especially where cross-seats were used in the car, with a consequent possibility of overheating the seats and causing discomfort to the passengers and a possibility of obstructing the flow of heat when passengers occupied the seats. Other car heaters were placed .in front of the seats or in the seat- 35 supporting structures, thus necessitating provision for properly protecting the heating element and for preventing accidental contact of the passengers with it.

In practicing my invention, 1 provide a heating element located in the hollow seatsupporting pedestal commonly used with cross-seats, mounting the same in the hollow interior thereof and providing suitable means for permitting quick inspection and the removal of a damaged heater Whenever necessary. I provide also suitable current conductors located below the floor of the car and outlets so arranged that suitable conductors may be provided to connect the heating element in each seat pedestal to the main current conductors.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation. of the device embodying my invention, with a part 1920. Serial No. 381,231.

of the seat pedestal cover cut away, and Fig. 2 is a view, in front elevation, with certain parts shown in section, of the same device.

A cross-seat 1, shown here in general outline only, is supported, at its outer end, by projecting ledge2oi the car wall 3 but may be supported in any other desired manner. The inner end of the car seat 1 is supported by a hollow pedestal 4 which is suitably secured to the car floor 5 by means of a plurality of bolts or screws 6. A plate 7, of suitable insulating material, is secured against the inner surface of the pedestal wall by screws 8, A plurality of spring clips 9, of any suitable type, are secured to the plate 7, and suitable heating elements 10 are mounted in these clips. One wall of the pedestal 4 is provided with a suitable opening 11 into which is fitted a cover plate 12, provision being made for quick removal and insertion of this plate to enable inspection and repair of the heating elements to be made whenever necessary or desirable. A conduit 18, having an outlet box 14:, is provided below the floor of the car and suitably secured thereto, conductors 15 being provided to connect the heating elements 10 to the main current conductors located in the conduit 13 and a suitable opening 16 being provided in the floor of the car, below the pedestal 4, to permit the conductors 15 to be brought therethrough. Any suitable method oi mounting and location of'supply conductors and of location of controlling devices may be used with the heating elements, as may be desired. It is to be understood that the heating elements are here shown schematically only, as any desired method of mounting and of connection, either in parallel or in series-circuit relation, may be used, as is found desirable or necessary.

It may be noted that, by the use of the device embodying my invention, I so locate the heating elements that they do not require any extra space outside of, or under. the seats and that they are thoroughly pro tected and prevented from being accident ally touched by passengers in the car. I am able to subdivide the heating elements and distribute them over a large part of the car so that it is possible to provide a relatively even heating of the whole interior of the car body. It may further be noted that simple means are provided for connecting the heating elements to the main supply conductors and that both the heating elements and the supply conductors are elfectively protected against contact with any cleaning fluid which may be used in washing the car iioor. If desired, the cover member 12 may be provided with ventilating openings, although it is immaterial, so far as my invention is concerned, whether the car-seat pedestal is made entirely enclosed or is provided with suitably. designed and located ventilating openings.

Various modifications may be made in the device embodying my invention without departing; from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or are specifically stated in the'appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an electric car-heating apparatus. the combination with a single hollow seatsupporting; means having relatively thin walls and an aperture in one of said walls, of an insulating member in said supporting means opposite said aperture and an electric heating element mounted on said insulating member.

2. In an electric car-heatingapparatus, the combination with a unitary hollow seat pedestal mounted on the floor of said car, of electric heating means located inside of said. seat pedestal. v

3. An electric car heating apparatus comprisingan integral hollow pedestal member adapted to support a car seat and to support an electric heating element mounted therein to heat said car.

4. In an electric carheating apparatus, the combination with a hollow seat-suppor ing means having an aperture in one wall, of an insulating member in said seat-supporting member opposite said aperture, an electric heating element mounted on said insulating member and quickly removable therefrom and a quickly removable cover member for said aperture.

5. In an electric car-heating apparatus. the combination with a hollow seat pedestal mounted on the floor of said car, of an electric heating element in said seat pedestal and current-conducting means mounted on the lower surface of said car-floor and operatively connected to said heating element.

6. In an electric car-heating apparatus the combination with a hollow seat pedestal mounted on the iioor of said car and having relatively thin walls, one of which is provided with an aperture. and a quickly removable cover member for said aperture, of

an insulating member mounted in said pedestal, an electrlo heating" element secured to said insulating member and quickly removable therefrom, and currentconducting means mounted on, the lower surface of said car floor and operatlvely connected to said heating element. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name thls eighth day of May. 1920.

FRANK THORNTON, JR. 

